What to Expect from What’s Next Summit 2026?
The What’s Next Summit 2026 returns with a renewed ambition: to explore how artificial intelligence can be applied with strategic impact across business, society, and leadership.
Following a successful 2025 debut, this second edition brings together executives, academics, policymakers, and innovators who are ready to move beyond theory and focus on implementation at scale.
Porto Business School, in collaboration with the Innovation X Hub, positions the summit as a key initiative for leaders who want to create real, measurable value through innovation.
[AI]ming the Futures: From Vision to Execution
This year’s theme — [AI]ming the Futures — reflects a critical evolution in the global conversation on AI.
We are shifting from understanding what AI is to mastering how to implement it with purpose.
The 2026 edition focuses on execution, governance, and scalability — inviting participants to move from exploration to action.
Program
Four Strategic Pillars Shaping the Future
1. AI for Business Value Creation
Artificial intelligence is no longer just a trend — it is a tool for competitive advantage.
This track explores how organizations are creating value through:
- Intelligent automation
- Operational efficiency
- Data-driven decision-making
Executives will gain insights into how AI can support growth, innovation, and transformation.
2. Digital Infrastructure and Security
AI innovation depends on solid, secure digital foundations.
This pillar addresses how companies can scale AI while maintaining compliance, resilience, and trust.
Topics include:
- Cloud-native architecture
- Cybersecurity and risk mitigation
- Scalable infrastructure models
Technology must enable transformation — not constrain it.
3. Sectoral Transformation
AI is reshaping industries at an accelerated pace.
From healthcare and financial services to education and logistics, each sector presents unique opportunities and challenges.
Participants will explore:
- Industry-specific AI use cases
- Emerging strategies by sector leaders
- Barriers to adoption and enablers of success
This pillar brings practical insights from the frontlines of innovation.
4. Leadership and Human Capabilities
Technology alone is not enough.
Organizations need leaders who can navigate ethical complexity, change management, and digital skill development.
This track focuses on:
- Responsible leadership in the age of AI
- Workforce transformation and upskilling
- Managing hybrid teams of humans and intelligent systems
The future belongs to leaders who can balance human judgment with technological capability.
More Than an Event: A Platform for Strategic Collaboration
The What’s Next Summit 2026 is designed as a space for collaborative learning and strategic action.
The program includes:
- Keynotes from global thought leaders
- Masterclasses with hands-on application
- Roundtables addressing real-world challenges
- Impact Centers Labs to co-create roadmaps and partnerships
Participants will leave with tools, connections, and insights to accelerate transformation.
Who Should Attend
The summit is tailored for professionals who want to lead with clarity in an AI-driven world:
- Business executives and strategic leaders
- Startup founders and innovation investors
- Public sector decision-makers
- Researchers and faculty
- The Porto Business School community
Lead the Future
Join a network of leaders committed to transforming innovation into measurable outcomes.
🔗 Register today to secure your place at Portugal’s leading summit on applied artificial intelligence.
Discover the key moments from 2025: explore the official video and image highlights from last year’s event.